Landfill may not be reimbursed

Officials say feedback from FEMA not good

Officials say feedback from FEMA not good

August 08, 2007|By Emily Arthur-Richardt, American News Writer

Although the Brown County Landfill incurred flood-related expenses, it might not ever see that money reimbursed from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, county officials said on Tuesday. Landfill Manager Mike Scott and Brown County Emergency Management Director Scott told the Brown County Commission at its regular weekly meeting Tuesday that flood-related expenses have been submitted to FEMA; however, feedback so far hasn't been good. “This has been kind of a real nightmare,” Meints said. “... I've been working with FEMA and the state and it doesn't sound like we're going to get any money back.” Scott said the expenses have totalled more than $160,000, including about $118,000 in tipping fees that weren't charged and about $44,000 in equipment, labor and hauling. The landfill also submitted costs for hauling debris from the fairgrounds transfer location and for the space the flood debris removed from future use. Scott said when it comes to FEMA's reimbursement policy, the county was hurt by the fact that the flood happened during the time the landfill's free residential cleanup was going on. The landfill continued to accept flood-damaged items for free following the cleanup. Not charging a fee also worked against them, he said. While initial word from FEMA hasn't been good, Scott and Meints said they aren't giving up yet. Scott said it's possible that showing statistics on the amount of waste taken in the past few years during residential cleanup compared to this year might help. “The numbers aren't even close,” he said. And if that doesn't help, there's always an appeal, Meints said. “We're still battling,” he said. “There's not a lot of light at the end of the tunnel, but we're not dead in the water, yet.”